Gas washer



1,617,534 Feb. 15, 1927- MATHEU-S GAS WASHER Fifed Jan. 2. 1325 I 8444m Karl 11421128 4 Patented Feb. 15, 1927.

KARL MATHnUs', 0F oHIoAGo, ILLINOIS.

GAS WASHER.

Application filed January 2, 1925. Serial No. 177. i

The present inventionrelates to means for purifying products of combustion so that the same may not be objectionable, and the gaseous constituents of the same may again be utilized for combustion if desired.

7 It is broadly old to treat smoke and other products of combustion to separate from the gases of combustion the ashes, soot and other particlesin suspension, and various processes for accomplishing this have been suggested. I

The present invention relates to that general type of apparatus in which the products of combustion are directed through a sinuous path and subjectedtothe action of a purifying or washing agent which removes the particles in suspension and permits the gases to pass on for return to the seat of combustion or for discharge. When thus treated, obviously the purified gases are not as objectionable as in their original condition mixed with ashes, soot andother foreign matter.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for purification in which the smoke may have all impurities removed therefrom by the action of the water, and without mixing with the smoke, steam or other vapors which tend to delay the purifying process and materially increase the expense of its operation. p

A further object of the invention is to afford an apparatus which is relatively compact in structure, enabling it to be installed in comparatively small space, and is adapted to purify the smoke thoroughly by subjecting the'same within a limitedpath to the. positive action of a water-spray as a purifying agent.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which may be conveniently installed adjacent a'furnace or other seat of combustion and in communication with the discharge smoke stack whereby the gases may be either returned to the furnace to be further utilized for combustion, or discharged through the stack.

- The above, and other objects of the invention will become clearer as'a preferred embodiment of the invention is described,

the same being illustrated in the accompany;

ing drawing which is a vertical section of the apparatus with certain details shown in elevation.

It has heretofore been proposed to treat products of combustion by the combined action of steam and water,rthesteam condensing and causing deposit of the carbonaceous and other impurities, and also serving to assist in the passage of the products of combustion through the path; in which they are treated.- It hasbeen found that in p the treatment of products of combustion, it is notvdesirable to mix with the same any other vapors, the form ofwhichmust be modified, since this materially. delays any treatment, and, often, does not permit continuous actionupon the products of combustion as fast; as they are produced. In the present a'pparatus,'the products'whioh are discharged from the furnace or. other seat of combustion are thoroughly subjected v I Y to the'action-ofa water spray, and are passed through a sinuous course under a forced draught, preferably a suction, cre. ated by apower driven fan. The ashes,

soot, and other foreign matter are quickly a and positively separated from the gases of combustion, and the latter when thus puriv fied, may be returned to the furnace for recombustion, or, since they are not as offensive as in their original unpurified state, may be discharged through the stack.

The apparatus comprises a tank 10, which preferablycforms a base for the remainder of the apparatus, and is provided with suitablesupporting legs 11. The top.12, which, inthe present instance, is separately formed,

is provided with a plurality of openings 13,

surrounded by upstanding flanges 14 Y to which may be. secured stacks 15, 16 forming,- vertical passages opening at their lower ends into the tank, and through which the passagesare in communication with one another. The stack 15 is connected at its upper end by means of a pipe 17 with a furnace or anyother source of products of combus tion which are adapted to pass downwardly through the stack 15, andupwardly through the stack 16, the latter being connected by a pipe218 and a branch 19 with a fan 20 for creating a suction through the stacks. The

fan is mounted upon-a bracket 21, carrying I an electric motor 21-, which serves to drive the fan. 'It will be understood that any suitable means for creating a draught, either by suction or pressure, maybe employed.

The stacks may be maintained in position by any suitable bracing means such as a standard 22, which at its lower end is threaded into a socket 23, and at ltsupper end carries a crosshead 24 provided with es bran-k 1 reaches a: predetermined level; A

Topenings:.througlnwhich the stacks extend.

The-products of combustion follow an alternate downwardand upward course through the stacks, andivvhilepassing theree through, are subjected to the action or a water spray which serves as a purifying agent. Sprayheads 25 are positioned above the bottom of the tank .and dir-ectithe' spray upwardly'thr'ough all the stacks. The spray eac'h' stack may be regulated: independ ently by meansof valves 26; and: it will be noted thatthe staoks are or circuianformaj tion, whereby thew-men spr aywvill substan- V tiallyflfil l the-sametransverselyor in horiozone-u; planes: Each. valve 26 should be reg asses: upwardly: then gravitates 1 wn'ws'rclly in eachstack, is thoroughly which interininglo with the watermoving upw rdly, Well as: that whichdrops into the-tank orrosenvoir- 1e. Irwin be clear therefore; that althoirghathesmoke' will pass through ="a comparatively short path, the length; of which, of course, may be varied:

" as desired sineethe maybe oi any height;- it is, nevertheless, thoroughly sub--.

jected totheacti on of: the Water and" all parti clesin i'ispensiomwsuch as sootand ashes, are carried" by the fa' lli ng"water into the tank" 101* The gaseous constituents of the products of combustion upwardly tlnough the stack 16, and after passing use, 20; are forced through: a pipe 28'', wli i chvis' connected with? thefurnaoe (not.

snowman: 'Wh'ich tlle gases againfb'e utilized; V a

'It-will be observed: that the interior ofthe 1-0 is unobstructed, and means is provid d; for permitting; an accumulation of the Water carrying the fioreign matter re nioved iromwthe smoke'untilr itireaches aneer level,- when the-tank 'is autcmatically attained. For this; purpose vavle' 30 con-- trols a? dischargeopening 31:, and is con nected Toy-"means of: a link 32: witha lever ng a float; 34:,the Yleverb'eing'fulcrnineat l upon a bracket 36. means offthe float 34,- the valvezld will: be automatically operatedrwlren the water in the manually eontro'll-ecl discharge valves; is

provided as: the purpose or. draining the tanltslionld the automatically operated valve fail to operate at any time;

1 loreover, in"

closed as desired;

ed withthe Prod-nets or combustion V on'cle'r that the products of 'eon'ibustion may bediseharged in-the event.

that-there should be any interierei-ice with the normal operation of the device, the pipe 18 has. an extension 18 past the branch 19,

which, may be connected with the usual smoke stack. A damper in the extension 1s provided with a control lever 38 by means of which the extension may be opened or In the operation of the device, it may at times ber desirable to regulate the suction of i the fan 20 in accordance With the volume of the products of combustion introduced into the apparatus. For this purpose a dampen 39 is positioned in the branch 19;

lit Will be clear that the apparatus provided is extremely simple/in construction;

Although only two stacks are provided,

which ordinarily Will besui licient, due to the-factthat the sprayis directed'upwardly.

in bothcompartments and, therefore, mixed with the: smoke in both its upward and downward path, additional stacks may be provided: as-required, and-the length of the stacks: may, of course, be varied.

In: the operati'on'of theapparatus its ac- I 7 tion. may be modified by control of the damper 39, whichs'varies the force of the suction fan and also by regulatinglthespray valves 26;. a j' Obviously the invention; is; not limited to the construction illustrated: and described, and such changes may be made therein as come Within the scope of the following claim.

'l claimyf.

In a gas Washer; for the purpose' specified' the combination of a hollow"base member establishinga: liquid chamber, a roof cover-- ing over said b'ase' memherand chamberand having a pair of upwardly'facing'ports en tlcal 'fiu'es' reaching"upwardsfromsaid ports,

a gas inlet connection to the upper end: of

one: of said flues, deliveryconnection from theupper end of the other flue, spray nozzles in both lines for the introduction of suitable spray liquicha: down-comer from the gas delivery connection, a motor driven fan supported on the adjacent flue and servto draw the Waste gases fromsaidgas delivery connection. through said .doWncomer, a liquidedischarge' connection fromthe lower portion of said liquicbchamber, and a float val-vea-nd :fioat. Within the liquidchamber to=control said liquid discharge connection whereby. tomaintain a predetermined liquid levelin saidi chamber against the surface whereof the impinges in pass ngirom theiirst liue tothe second, substan'tially as desemhed.

In testimony whereof I have'hereunto set my hand.- 7

KARL MATHEUSL- 

